Typewriting machine



Nov. 18, 1930. e. F. HANDLEY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. l5 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3nnentor, Cieoryeflffarzdley By v Gttornegs.

NOV. 18, 1930. G, D E 1,781,725

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnnentor,

G 'oryeilifzrwy.

ttornegs Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UNI-Ten, STA ES; QQFFICE," f 1 GEORGE r. HANDLEY, or; GLENDALE, NEW YoRK,'AssiGNoR T0 ROYAL 'rYrEwnnEn COMPANY, mo, OFVNEW Yong, N, Y.,- A CORPORATION OF NEW vonx 'r zrnwnrrme acrame Original application 11166 December 15, 1928, Serial Y November 19, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines generally and in machines of analogous arts, although more particularly to improvements in automatic reversing ribbon mechanismssuch as is dise closed'injmy Patent 1,570,218, January 19, 1926, and constitutes a-division of my 00 pending application Serial No. 326,318 filed December 15,-1928.

In the construction of my prior patent, a

button or other projectioinwhich is located on the ribbon adjacent 1 the unwinding end thereof, is moved by the ribbon into contact with anarm and the latteris thereby moved against the tension of the'spring to elfect'the automatic operation of the ribbonreversing mechanism. Immediately following ,1 the completion of the reversing operation, the armis returned by the spring to itsnormal or retracted position. ,Thereturn movement of this arm, by reason'of its contact with the button, causes that portion of the ribbon between the'now active ribbon spool and the button to be formed into a loose loop-like formationor slack portion which must be takenup by the rotation of the spool before the ribbon begins its actual reverse feeding movement, "The ribbon, where it is engaged by the type remainsstationary until said slack is taken up. This failure of the ribbon to feedresults in theribbon being perforated by the type. this one spot. Itis, therefore, theprincip al object ofthe present invention take-upmechanism for saidribbon loop or slack portion, which will function substantially instantaneously andlimmediately after the. operation of the reversing 'mechanism, and simultaneously with vthe return ofithe ribbon controlled means, whereby the spool will immediately begin its feeding movement for the entire ribbon and the possibility of the typeperforating the ribbon will be thereby avoided; k

In the accompanying drawings: 4 Figural is a front elevation showing an automatic ribbon reversing mechanism embodying my invention, the view showing the reversing mechanism 1n operatmn;

Figure 2 is top plan View showinga part to provide an automatic 11 ,326,318; Divided and on; application filed Serial No.1 61:08,24=%. f

of the lefthandribbonspoohthe ribbon,-and the ribbon controlled arm which actuates the reversing mechanism; I 1 p Figure 3 's a horizontal section taken below the right handspool and showing the ribbontake-up mechanism; a

j Figure 4 s an end view partly in'section showing the intermittent ribbon feeding means; I, g o Figure Sis a front elevation of the spool shaft, 'a portion thereof'being shown in sec- 131011;, i H is 2 Figure 6 is V a horizontal "sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

I Figure l is horizontal sectional view taken-on the -l1ne'7-7- of Figure 5, and

machine to'which the ribbon reversing mechanism is applied.

This; ribbon reversing mechanism comprises generally a pair of ribbon spools A, A which, are "respectively a supported on vertical shafts 'B, B which in turn are each, supported i-noifsetgarms 2 and 350i a bracket 4 attached to'the typebar segment. Fixed to the: lower end of each spool shaft B is a bevelj gear ,5'with one of which is adapted to of the machine and withfthe'other of which a a H mesh bevel gear '6 at'the right hand. side is adaptedfto mesh asiniilar bevel gear 7 at theleft handfside ofthe machine, the gear 7 facing in thefopposite {direction to the gear 6. Thegears 6'andf7 are fixed to a driving shaft] 8'jwhich is journaled in downwardly extending harm s 9fof'the brackets a; The

shaft 8fi is free to rotate in the arms 9, and

mavbemoved longitudinally therein. a

Near theflight hand end the shaft 8 has fixedthereon a large ratchet wheel 10 with fineflt eeth which are engaged by a pawl 11 pivotally connected at 12 to a universal bar 13 which is operated ateach depression ofthe usual type key levers. A spring 14yieldably retains the pawl 11 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 10. During grooves 16 and 17. A spring pressed; etent 181is pivotallyiconnected to the bracket 4 and cooperates with the grooves Hand 17 to hold theshaft 8 in either of itslongitudinal or endwise adjustments,whereby either the 6 gear 6 will be disposed inmesh with the gear 5, or the gear Twill be disposed in mesh with the other gear 5.

Thus, when the shaft 8 is automatically moved endwise to reverse the rotations of the spool shafts B,'s'aid shaft 8 will be'retained' by the detent 18 inits adjusted position. Fixedto the shaft 8, at each end thereof, is a spiral gear 19 andassociated with each gear "is a vertically movable pawl 20, having a tooth 21' adjacent its lowerend. The upper ,end of the pawl 20 is provided with a longitudinal (slot 22 through which a pin 23 extends, said'pin being fixed to an arm 24 of the bracket4, and the lower end of the pawl is guided in an opening'formed in a horizontal plate 25 attached to. the machine frame 26. Thus, the pawl 20 is guided for vertical movements relative to the associated gear 19. Consequently, when the pawl is raised and the tooth 21 is brought into engagement with the teeth of the gear 19, the rotation of the drive shaft 8 will cause a gear toothto cam against thestationa-ry tooth 21 of the pawl and thereby cause the shaft to move longitudinally,thereby coupling the gears 5 and 6 or 5 and7, depending upon the direction of longitudinal movement of said shaft. Thus, the full ribbon spool will be disconnected and'the empty spool will be rotated in the direction to wind the ribbon thereon.

i The reversing mechanism above described is duplicated at opposite sidesof the machine, but reversibly arranged in order that operation of the same will move the shaft 8 alternately opposite directions.

,fThe ribbon reversing mechanism; is controlled and actuated by the ribbon C'which is fed from onespool to the other, the ribbon passingthroug'h a ribbon vibrator D; The ribbon near each end is provided with a button or projection 27, which, as the ribbon is nearly fed from one spool, engages a ribbon guide 28, and moves the latter in a direction away from the spool. This guide 28 is fixed to one end of an arm 29which is supported on an arm 30 of the bracket 4 for straight line movements ina horizontal plane through the medium of a pin and slot connection 31 between said-arms. The opposite end of the .spring. being connected to and yieldably supporting the pawl 20. j The bell crank lever 33 isprovided with'a third ar1n'37 which'constitutes a latch and this latch arm 37 is connected tothe lower end of a coil spring 38, the upper end of the spring being connected to an ear 39 on the bracket 4.

Thus, when the button or projection 27 is moved outwardly by the feeding operation of the ribbon it engages the ribbon guide 28 and moves the arm 29 in a straight line which in turn rocks the lever 33 against the tension of the spring 38, and the arm 35 of said lever 33 through the medium of the spring 36 raises the pawl 20 to engage the tooth 21 thereof with a tooth of the spiral gear 19 and thereby move the driving shaft 8 longitudinally to effect a coupling of the driving gears of the associated spool and an uncoupling of the driving gears of the other spool. Simultaneously with the coupling of the gears, the spring 38 effects a quick return of the ribbon guide 28, arm 29 and lever 33'to their normal positions, this movement disconnecting the spiral gear from the pawl 20. The ribbon guide in its return movement pushes the button or projection 27 and causes the formation of a loop or slack portion in the ribbon betweenthe spool and the guide.

This slack or loop portion must be taken up by the rotation of the spool before the main portion of the ribbon begins its feeding movement, because that portion of the ribbon which is engaged by the type remains stationary until the slack above described has been taken up, and as a result the continued striking of the type against the stationary part of the ribbon results in said ribbon being perforated by the type.

In order to antomatically take up this slack in the ribbon substantially instantaneously and immediatelyfollowingthe operation of the reversing mechanism I have provided a ribbon slack take-up mechanism which is operable simultaneously with the return movement of the ribbon control means. To this end, each spool shaft B is formed of upper and lower sections 40 and 41 respectively, the lower end of the upper section being provided with a seat 42 for receiving the reduced upper portion 43 of the lower section. Fixed to the lower portion of the uppersection 40 is a collar 44 and fixed to the upper portion of the lower section is a collar 45. An upwardly extending drive finger 46 is fixed to the collar and is adapted to engage one or the other of spaced fingers 47 and 48 which are fixed to and depend from the collar 44. A coil spring surrounds the lower section 41' between the collars l l 'an'd and the ends of this spring arere'spectively fixe'dto said'collars,

Thus the-upper section 40 of saidshaft is adapted to "be: rotatedin "either direction relative tothelower section 41, the spring 49 serving to normally retain the driving finger 46 in engagement with the stop finger 47 to thereby rotate the upper shaft section 40; Ehus,*upon rotation of the lower shaft section 41' of one spool shaft in aclockwise direction, the iupper shaftsection 40 will be rotated in the same direction, whereas the lower-section of the other spool shaft willbe rotated in an anti-clockwise direction.

" It isdesirable to retain the lower section ilotthe' spool shaft againstrotationduring the iorwa-rd movement of the. ribbon guide 28 so as to permit the ribbon during its feedingniovenient to rotate the upper section 40 again'stthe tension of the spring 49. .I have,

therefore, fixedly attached to lower'section' 41 a collar having a circular rack 5l fixed to the upper end thereof. The latch arm 37 Whichis fixed tothebell crank lever 33 funct-ions to: engagebetween a pair of teeth of the circular raclrolwvlien the ribbon guide38 is moved to its limit under the influence of the ribbon :button or. projection 37; Thus,

.the; lower section 4:1 of the shaft is/held against movement while the upper section 40 is being rotated under the influence of the ribbon feeding action; Consequently, as soon as the ribbonguidebegins its return movement due to the operation of the reversing mechanism, thespring 49 will reversibl z: rotate the upper section 40 of the shaft'together with the ribbon spool until the-drive finger ac reenga es the stop finger 7 i7 and thereby quickly. ta e up the slack in the ribbon between: the ribbon guide 28 and the spool during the return movement of said ribbon guide.

Frolnthe i'oregoingit will be observed'that I have" provided a spring which is'connected to the ribbon spool, and that this spring is placed under tension when the ribbon control led meansis actuated by the ribbon and is effective to rotate the spool to take up the ribbon slack simultaneously with return movement of the ribbon: controlled means to itsinitial position, and that I have provided means for locking the lower section of the.

' shaft against rotation while the uppershai't is being rotated in opposite directions.

r I. In agtypewriter or the like, a, ribbon feedingmechanism including a ribbon spool and a ribbon wound thereon,a ribbon reverstrolled means to'its', initial positionimmediately' following the operation of the, reversingmcchanism' whereby aslack, in. the ribbon 3.In-a

mg mechanism, a 'movable ribboncontrolled means for operating said reversingmechanism, means Itor returning the llbbOll-COE1 is form'e'd between the spool a'n'dithelribboncontrolled means, and-1a springconnected to thespoolrand placed under tensionwhen.

the ribbon-controlled 'means is actuated by.

the ribbonfandefiective to rotate the spool: to take uptthe ribbon-slack simultaneously with the returnanovement of the ribbon-conev trolled means to its. initial position. v In a typewriter or I the like, a ribbon; feeding mechanism including. a ribbon spool,' a ribbon wound thereon, and a. spool shaft; comprising upper and lower sections. sup ported for relative rotary movements,.the

spool being connected touthe upper section shaft-sections and. placedpunderi" tension whenjthef ribbon-controlled means is actua ated ,byflthe ribbon and, effective to. rotate the spool to takev up the ribbonslack simul taneously with the. return. movement: ofthe ribbon-controlled means to its initial position. i typewriter or the likefa ribbon teedin g mechanism including a, ribbon spool, a ribbon wound thereon, and a spool shaft comprising upper and lower sections sup ported for relative yrotarymovements, the

spool being connected to the upper sectionto rotate therewith,- cooperating stops fixed to the shaftsections to limit the'rotation of onesection relative. to theother, a ribbon reversmg mechanism; a? movable. IlbbOIl-COIF trolled means for operating said reversing mechanism, means. forpreturning the ribboncontrolled: means to .its initial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a' slack in the ribbon is formed, between the spool and the ribbon-controlled means, and I a I spring inter posed between and. connected to: the upper and lower shaft section-sand placed under tension when the, ribbon-controlled meansis actuated by: the ribbon. and effective to rot ate thespool togtakeup the ribbonsslack si m-ul taneously with the return movement of the ribbon=controlled meansto its initial position; i A. In a typewriteror the like, a ribbon feedin g mechanism including a ribbon. spool,j a ribbon wound thereon, and a spool shaft comprising upperand lower sections supported for 'rel'ative rotary movements,the spool belng connectedito the upper. section to rotate therewlth' ,a ribbon reversing mechanism, a movable. ribbon-controlled means: for operating said reversingmechanism, means-torreturning rfibbon controlled. means to in initial position immediately following the operationofthe reversing mechanism wherebya slackin the ribbon is formed between com rising upper and lower sections supported or relative rotary movements,-the spool being connected to the upper section to rotate therewith, a ribbon reversing -mechanism, a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating 'saidreversing mechanism, means for returning the ribbon controlled means to itsinitial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbonisformed between the spool and the ribbon-controlled means, collars respectively fixed'to the upper and lower shaft sections, cooperating stops respectively fixed to the collars and arranged in overlapping relation to limit the rotation of one section relative to the other, and a.

spring connected to the shaft sections-and placed under tension when the ribbon-controlled means is actuated by the ribbon and effective to rotate the spool to take up the ribbon slack simultaneously with the return 7 movement of the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position; i

6. In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanismincluding aribbon spool, a ribbon wound thereon, and a spool shaftcomrising upper and lower sections-supported or relative rotary movements, the spool being connected to the upper section to rotate therewith, a ribbon reversing mechanism, a

movable ribbon-controlled means for operatingsaid reversing mechanism,means for returning the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and the ribbon-controlled means, collars respectivelyfixed to the upper and lower shaft sections, cooperatingstops respectively fixed to the collars and arranged in overlapping relation to limit the rotation of. one section relative to the other, andra spring connected to the shaft sections and placed under tension when the ribbon-con trolled means is actuated by the ribbon and eifectiveflto "rotate the spool to take up the ribbon slack simultaneouslywith the return movementof the ribbon-controlled means to its initial-position, said spring being disposed around one shaft section and between the collars on the sections and within the path of movement of the cooperating stops. r

7 In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism including, a ribbon spool,1a ribbon wound thereon, and a spool shaft comprising upper and lower sections supported for relative rotary. movements, the spool being connected to the upper section to rotate therewith, a ribbon reversingmechanism, a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversinglmechanism, means for returning the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbonis formed between the spool and the ribbon-controlled means, a spring interposed between and connected to the upper and lower shaft sections and placed under tension when the ribbon-com trolled means is actuated by the ribbon and effectiveto rotate the spool to take up the ribbon slack simultaneously with the return movement 'of the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position, and means for retaining the lower shaftsection against rotation during the tensioning of said spring. 7

In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism including'a ribbon spool,

a ribbon wound thereon, and a spool shaft comprising upper and lower sections supported for relative rotary movements, the spool being connected to the upper section to rotate therewith, a ribbon reversing mech anism, a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism, means for returning the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position immediately following the operation of V the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and the ribboncontrolled means, a spring interposed between and connected to the upper and lower shaft sections and placed under tension when the ribbon-controlled means is actuated by the ribbon and effective to rotate the spool to take'up the ribbon slack simultaneously with the return movement of vthe ribbon-controlled means to its initial position, and means for retaining the lower shaft section against rotation during the tensioning of said spring and (releasable by the ribbon-controlled means during the return movement of the latter. 7 v i 9. Ina typewriter orthe like, a ribbon feeding mechanism including a ribbon spool,

a ribbon'wound thereon, and a spool shaft comprising upper and lower sections supported for relative rotary movements, the spool being connected to the upper section to rotate therewith, a-ribbon reversing mechanism, a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism, means for returning the ribbon controlledmeans to its initial position immediately'following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and the ribbon-controlled means, a spring interposed between and connected to the upper and lower shaft sections and placed undertension when the ribboncontrolled means is actuated bythe ribbon and efiective to rotate the spool to take up the ribbon slack simultaneously with the return movement of the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position, and means operated by the ribbon-controlled means during movement thereof the ribbon to lock the lower shaft section against movement during rotation of the upper shaft section against the tension of said spring and to release said lower shaft section during the return movement of said ribbon-controlled means.

10. In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism including a ribbon spool,

a ribbon wound thereon, and a spoolshaft comprising upper and lower sections supported for relative rotary movements, the spool being connected to the upper section I; to rotate therewith, a ribbon reversing mechanism, a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism, means for returning the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and the I ribbon-controlled means, a spring interposed upper and lower shaft sections and placed under tension when the ribbon-controlled means is actuated by the ribbon and effective to rotate the s'poolto take up the ribbon slack simultaneously with the return movement of the ribbon-controlled means to its initialposition, a circular rack fixed to the lower shaft sectionand a latch arm fixed to said bell crank lever and movable by the ribbon-con trolled means to engage the rack and lock the lower shaft section against movement during rotation ;of the uppershaft section aga'nst the tension of said spring and to release said lower shaft section during the return movement of said ribbon-controlled GEORGE E. HANDLEY.

between and connectedto the upper and lower shaft'sections and placed under tension when the ribbon-controlled means is actuated by the ribbon and effective to rotate the spool to take up the ribbon slack simultaneously with l the return movement of the ribbon-controlled 4 means to its initial position, a circular rack fixed to the lower shaft section, and a'latch operated by the ribbon-controlled means during movement thereof by the ribbon to engage the rack and lock the lower shaft section against movement during rotation of the upper shaft section against the tension of said spring andto release said lower shaft section during the return movement of said ribbon-controlled means.

11. In a typewriter or the like, a ribbon feeding mechanism including a ribbon spool, a ribbon wound thereon, and a spool shaft comprisingupper and lower sections supported for relative rotary movements, the spool being connected to the upper section to rotate therewith, a ribbon reversing mechanism, a movable ribbon-controlled means for operating said reversing mechanism including a bell crank lever, means for returning the ribbon-controlled means to its initial position immediately following the operation of the reversing mechanism whereby a slack in the ribbon is formed between the spool and the ribbon-controlled means, and a spring interposed between and connected to the 

